Travs Clinch First Half Division Title
Published on June 9, 2019 under Texas League (TL1)
Arkansas Travelers News Release
Tulsa, OK-The Arkansas Travelers are the first half champions of the Texas League's North Division as they defeated the Tulsa Drillers, 11-7 on Sunday afternoon to lock up the title. It is the second straight season for the Travs to win the first half division crown and the first time since the 1979-80 seasons that the franchise has accomplished that feat. The Travs are guaranteed one of the league's four playoff berths and will host the first two games of the North Division playoff series at the conclusion of the regular season. The Travs clinched by sweeping the four game series in Tulsa to eliminate the second place Drillers. It was their fifth consecutive win overall. Arkansas is 18-8 against Tulsa this year including 12-3 in the Drillers' ballpark.
Moments That Mattered
* Eight straight batters reached to open the second inning with four of them belting homeruns in the barrage that fired the Travs out to the early lead. Jordan Cowan opened the scoring with a 2-run blast. Nick Zammarelli (3-run HR), Evan White (2-run) and Jake Fraley (solo) also went deep in the inning.
* Andrew Moore retired the first 16 Tulsa hitters in the game before eight straight Drillers reached in the sixth inning with seven of them scoring to cut the Travs lead down to four.
* Jack Anderson (2 IP) and Matt Tenuta (IP) were able to slam the door by sitting down the final 9 Drillers batters in succession.
Notable Travs Performances
* 1B Evan White: 3-5, BB, 2 runs, HR, 2 RBI
* LF Jake Fraley: 2-5, BB, 2 runs, 2 HR, 3 RBI
* CF Dom Thompson-Williams: 3-5, run, 2 2B
* 2B Jordan Cowan: 2-4, BB, run, HR, 2 RBI
* RF Nick Zammarelli: 2-5, run, HR, 3 RBI
News and Notes
* White has homered in three consecutive games and has driven in multiple runs in each of those contests.
* The five homers by Arkansas are a season-high.
* Both teams set the season-highs for most runs scored and allowed in an inning with the Travs' 8-run second and Tulsa's 7-run sixth.
* Logan Taylor was the only Trav without a hit and saw his 14 game hitting streak come to a close.
Up Next
After a day off on Monday, the Travs return to Dickey-Stephens Park to begin a six-game homestand with the first of three against the Corpus Christi Hooks. Right-hander Darren McCaughan (4-3, 2.88) makes the start against RH Carson LaRue (1-2, 5.72). First pitch is 7:10 and it is a Zoosday Tuesday at the ballpark with free train rides and baseball bingo. The game will also be broadcast on the Sports Animal 920, the First Pitch App, TuneIn radio and milb.tv.
Texas League Stories from June 9, 2019
- Sod Poodles Blank Hooks for Series Split - Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Cardinals Pound Naturals, 10-2, to Close Road Trip - Springfield Cardinals
- Sod Poodles Crush Hooks' First Place Hopes - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Travs Clinch First Half Division Title - Arkansas Travelers
- Northwest Arkansas Drops Finale to Springfield - Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- Lopes' Early Homer Highlights Tough Loss in Midland - Frisco RoughRiders
- Arkansas Clinches First-Half Title with Win over the Drillers - Tulsa Drillers
- Javier, McKee Dominate Amarillo in 1-0 Nail-Biter - Corpus Christi Hooks
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